Posted on
More from News
Networking professionals looking to build new systems in the coming years will have to place a stronger focus on wireless solutions, as this technology is expected to replace wired tools for many everyday activities.
This is according to new research conducted by ad forecaster Zenith, which observed that the use of wireless devices has increased from 40 per cent to 70 per cent over the last four years, and this growth is not expected to slow down any time soon.
It predicted three-quarters (75 per cent) of internet use will take place via mobile devices next year, and in some parts of the world penetration will be even higher. Hong Kong, for example, is set to lead the way with 89 per cent of activity taking place on wireless networks by 2018, with the US slightly behind at 83 per cent.
Network World noted that this is a trend that equipment suppliers and network professionals will have to get to grips with if they want to meet the changing demands of end-users.
It highlighted figures from comScore that suggest the use of desktop machines has declined by 11 per cent over the last 12 months.
“The convenience of smartphones and tablet devices and the innovation around mobile apps have completely shifted the digital media landscape in favour of mobile," comScore stated.
Although wired solutions such as desktops will still have a place in the office environment, Zenith noted that even in these locations, tools such as tablets will have a growing role to play as employees look to be much more agile in how they approach computing, shifting between devices depending on their specific needs at any given time.
One reason for this is the growing penetration of smartphones, which more people now expect to be able to use in the workplace as well as in their personal lives.
Zenith noted that in 2012, only 23 per cent of consumers across the 60 countries it examined used a smartphone. This has now increased to 56 per cent and will reach 63 per cent globally by 2018.
Another factor that will increase demand for wireless connectivity will be the increasing role of Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Network World highlighted a prediction from telco manufacturer Ericsson that forecasts that IoT will become a bigger category than smartphones by 2018.
The company said that mobile connectivity will therefore be "critical" for supporting these deployments.
This will raise several questions related to cost when this data is being transferred wirelessly over cellular networks rather than Wi-Fi, Network World observed.
The publication asked: "Will IoT developers be willing to design devices that are reliant on onerous mobile subscription fees in fixed environments? Why do that if you could use unlicensed wireless spectrum such as Wi-Fi and others? Or will mobile network operators lower IoT network-pitched pricing to get the business?"
